The nominees for SA Rugby’s dik dinge are in.
And among them are a number of Capetonians vying for the biggest individual prizes in South African rugby.
Up for the top gong is Stormers and Springboks lock-cum-flank Pieter-Steph du Toit, who also won the 2016 Sa Rugby Player of the Year award.
He will be up against current holder Malcolm Marx, World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Aphiwe Dyantyi, Lions lock Mostert and Bulls and Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard.
Du Toit, though, was a mean machine without stop throughout the season and should be the favourite to walk away with the big prize for the second time in his career.
DOUBLE THREAT: Damian Willemse. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse, meanwhile, will battle fellow youngsters RG Snyman, Sharks flyers Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi and Bok scrumhalf for the Young Player of the Year award.
Willemse played for both the Springboks and the Junior Boks this year.
The 20-year-old has also been nominated for the Junior Springboks’ Player of the Year and faces stiff competition from U20 teammates Lions duo Tyrone Green and Wandisile Simelane, as well as fellow Stormer Salmaan Moerat, who led the team this year.
CURRIE CUP ACE: Sergeal Petersen. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Despite winning only 50 percent of his matches this year, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has also been nominated in the Coach of the Year category.
Of his nomination, Saru president Mark Alexander says: “The Springboks have shown a great resurgence under Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team and the fact that the media nominated him as one of the three Coaches of the Year is a testimony to this.
"We believe we are heading in the right direction in our preparation for the World Cup."
SA Rugby Player of the Year nominees
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Handre Pollard
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
Aphelele Fassi, Sbu Nkosi, Embrose Papier, RG Snyman, Damian Willemse.
Team of the Year
Lions (Super Rugby runners-up), Sharks (Currie Cup winners), Springbok Sevens (World Series winners)
Coach of the Year
Swys de Bruin (Lions), Rassie Erasmus, (Springboks), Neil Powell (Blitzboks).
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year
Werner Kok, Ruhan Nel, Dylan Sage
Junior Springbok Player of the Year
Tyrone Green, Salmaan Moerat, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse.
Super Rugby Player of the Tournament
Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Franco Mostert (Lions).
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
SP Marais (WP), Sergeal Petersen (WP), Akker van der Merwe (Sharks).
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
Divan Nel (SWD Eagles), Anrich Richter (Valke), Etienne Taljaard (Valke).
SuperSport Rugby Challenge Player of the Year
Enver Brandt (Griquas), Ruwellyn Isbell (Pumas), Chris Smith (Pumas), Stefan Ungerer (Pumas).